game warden beat down

[Mentalfloss]

So I messed up today. I just moved to TX from Wisconsin and just found a great place to look for arrow heads. I went out yesterday and found three just sitting on top of the ground. Thought I would go back today and look for more. Found one right away lots of nice flint sighs of a camp and getting really excited when all of a sudden a game warden pulls up. I was right in an old Indian village. This is when it turned upside down. Ticket one I didn’t have an access card to be in that area since it was on military ground $125.00 I had a big piece of flint rock on me (and an arrow head that I dropped before he could see it) $125.00 the flint rock I had was an artifact another $200.00 and I had a fire arm in my bag not register to fort hood $75.00 plus go to jail witch he let slide. There was like 3 other things he could have written me up for that he let slide. Once I get an access card I can go hiking back there just cant pick anything up. What should I do I know right where the spear point is. The stuff is just sitting on top of the ground waiting to be picked up and I have the bug bad.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[hollowpointred]

although its tempting dont break the law. he wont let you off easy next time, and it makes us all look bad if you get caught. i know it sucks but leave it alone.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Strike 2 will most definitely land you in jail for up to 30 days. You may know that trespassing on military property without permission is a big "No". Now, you are asking should you go back and break the law by picking up the artifact after you KNOW it's illegal. If you have to ask ..... you already know the answer. Not to mention the fact that if you get pulled over leaving there with a bag full of artifacts ....... Federal Charges. Hunting on Federally protected land will give you a lot of time to think about what you did ... while you're sitting in an 8 X 5 Cell.

It's not worth it .... it's just a bunch of rocks! Is it worth spending your time in jail going crazy since you only get 1 hour outside a day? Don't say I didn't warn you. There are plenty of places in Texas to go hunting without having to break the law.

 

[Mentalfloss]

frist off i thought it was public land because i was on the other side of the road of fort hood i didnt see anything saying it was owned by them and yes i am not going to ever go back to look its just hard knowing its just right there. i know i should have check to see who owned the land. and two i never go anywhere without a gun you just never know and besides after doing time over seas you get use to going every where with a gun. Hey i know i will wait for another 3 months till i go to iraq again and look for spear points over there for some reason i dont think they have the laws over there againt that.. and three it sucks cause they have dozers in there digging and smaching the rock to fill sand back cracks in the road. and i am the back guy it was just a smiple mistake.

 

[Montana Jim]

It's much more important that you leave all that stuff laying there for nobody to ever appreciate or enjoy.

It's law... it sucks.

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Just think, it would have cost you less in fines if you had had five weapons on you! The secret is to go out there at night, real ninja-like. They won't EVER bother you then. Or hope you get stationed there.
CurbdiggerCarl

 

[*Molly*]

For what its cost you in fines, you may as well pay to go on a site. There's quite a few places where you can pay n dig. Just until you get to know ppl, places where you can hunt for free..

Hunting season starts there soon, believe me you don't wanna be in Texas, hunting artifacts,when the guys are having their camping,drinking,hunting sessions, its just not safe.

Btw, yes I do know how it feels not to be able to hunt on sites, where you know are artifacts. The field next to where I hunt, the miserable looking owner won't let me,says If I get hurt on his land,I might sue. His mother owns the land, she said feel free to hunt. I got so ticked off being messed around, its not just that, I KNOW there's artifacts on that land. The guy came to my house & said NO. But later had the darn nerve to ask if he could hunt the deer I feed on our land. yeah right !!! I'll not tell ya'll what I said, I'm too lady-like.
I think Artifacts that are lost forever is a crying shame...
I'll not risk a fine or risk giving us hunters a bad name.

Molly. (Be patient Floss,sure you'll find places, you just gotta get to know the right ppl,takes time. Good Luck.)

 

[GL]

Do NOT mess with a Game Warden.
Leave whatever you think is there alone and find another place to look.

 

[hollowpointred]

Just think, it would have cost you less in fines if you had had five weapons on you! The secret is to go out there at night, real ninja-like. They won't EVER bother you then. Or hope you get stationed there.
CurbdiggerCarl

this kind of advice will get you locked up....real bad idea.

 

[pickaway]

Odd a game warden would have juristiction over that, youd think the military would.If you got permission to go back do what you feel is right.And just keep quiet about the choice youve made.

 

[Jonnyreb]

Odd a game warden would have juristiction over that, youd think the military would.If you got permission to go back do what you feel is right.And just keep quiet about the choice youve made.

First off Mentalfloss, I hate to hear about your misfortune.
Fact is, here in Texas, our game wardens tend to pick on everyone BUT hunters.
I know a couple of guys who were out feeding cattle one winter evening, no weapons on em. Game warden came up and asked them what they were doing, they said feeding cattle. He asked them if they hunt. They said yes. He asked if they had a license to hunt, they said yes and showed their permits.
They were both ticketed for "impersonating a hunter". (One of them was wearing and OLD Army jacket) This was in Franklin County Texas.
Menalfloss, I suppose since the Clinton regime did its damage to the freedoms of our country, a lot has changed down there. I wouldn't mess around on those spots unless I were on a feild problem with the rest of my unit. Game wardens are too chicken$#!% to show up around manouvers.
Chances are, that jackass knows you guys in the Army generally have some money, and are nieve, dont want trouble, etc.
As far as carrying a gun on an Army Post, Dude, I been to war too, but that will get you nailed quick. End your carreer quicker than a DWI!
On that one, your lucky the M.P.'s didnt get wind of it.
Other than feild problems, check out other areas around there, and as Molly said, there are some pay to dig sites around that area too. Camp Live Oak aint too far from you.
Good Luck and sorry for your misfortune.

 

[Montana Jim]

It's much more important that you leave all that stuff laying there for nobody to ever appreciate or enjoy.

It's law... it sucks.

I agree with the spirit of what you are saying. It is also important to understand that not absolutely everything has to be immediately recovered. There are sites which need to be maintained intact, even the surface manifestations, because they are very relevant to a current research design. There are sites out there which it would be a shame if the various components are separated for displays of artifacts, while the dawning of new concepts they contained will never happen.

There are many sites that are threatened and need the materials recovered, and there are many stupid archaeologists whom waste their efforts investigating sites with little potential.

There are also sites which may be sitting there "threatened" or unappreciated, but are merely awaiting funding and the development of an interesting and pertinent research question. There are sites that have a story to tell. The worst way to do this is to pick up everything from it, and then to fire everything that is flaked into the various "tool-type displays".

It is all about context. Relationships. It is all about asking the right kinds of questions, and being able to apply a comprehensive understanding to the analysis of the materials.

A few more Archaic points in a pocket are not good for quite as much.

I am sure that this specific site is eroding away, partially under condos, a party spot for the local meth manufacturers, etc. I am sure that archaeologists are aware of the site, yet continue to bicker in isolated crystal towers over inane concepts.

But just maybe..............

Sometimes I am hard pressed to pick a side on this issue. Sometimes I just want to say "none of the above". The learning concerning these ancient peoples does not stop at memorizing all of the various point names. It is an interdisciplinary endeavor, and the concepts must be applied to the site contents in situ.

Eh... Fair enough. Well stated as usual, well - when you're sober anyway.

 

[Billco]

Mentalfloss, I feel for you having to pay all that money and have to throw down that point to boot. Could have been a lot worse since you were carrying an unregistered weapon on a military base. But regarding carrying weapons while arrowhead hunting (off gov't land), I can certainly see why someone would carry in a lot of places - like where I hunt. I don't carry a weapon, but I do worry about coming in contact with the wrong person out in the middle of nowhere, especially when I know that a lot of them ARE carrying weapons.

 

[ivan salis]

psst you were at wrong place (military base) doing a illegal thing (collecting artifacts is illegal in texas) with a gun in yer back pack -- you were caught by "the man" -- you said opps didn't know so sorry --he cut you a break on what he could have charged you with and didn't arrest ya --- now do you think it smart to go back there? that way if caught your a repeat offender --and you were warned not to and let off light . --oh ya he'll hang you out to dry if you go there again count on it and the judge will throw the book at ya next time.

 

[Billco]

I say let him make up his own mind.

Btw, I'm certain that a lot of Texans on this forum are unaware that collecting artifacts is illegal in Texas. I'm sure they appreciate the education.

 

[ink-a-alot]

I say let him make up his own mind.

Btw, I'm certain that a lot of Texans on this forum are unaware that collecting artifacts is illegal in Texas. I'm sure they appreciate the education.

im from texas and u were on government land sucks that u got cought, its not against the law to dig or hunt arrowheads in texas, i have plenty of potery that i have dugg up, that i know those bastards would love to try to steal from me!! just try to stay off the land or get someone to drop u off, thats that u can do... was u in east texas on sulphur river near texarcana??

 

[GL]

Impersonating a hunter?

That's a bullsqueeze ticket and I would have fought that stupidity tooth and nail.

 

[ink-a-alot]

Impersonating a hunter?

That's a bullsqueeze ticket and I would have fought that stupidity tooth and nail.

Im from franklin county probaly same mother f?()& busted me for just target practice with my old 22 hornet, got a ticket for no hunting permit and no hunters safety coures, and oh ya a night in jail. case is still pending.... Im conter sued for wrongful arrest good thing my cousin is district atourny,lol...

 

[chong2]

go get the permit, and enjoy a nature hike or wait untill the base closes down.........

 

[BuckleBoy]

I say forget the permit.  Just stay off that land.  If you get the permit, then you'll be tempted--and you'll wind up in Jail and your case will become yet another Weapon in the hands of those who would like to Outlaw our wonderful hobby. 

Follow the law!  Another TreasureNet member posted once saying that he was arrested.  He started taking things from the garage of a house he thought was abandoned.  Well--it still belonged to someone!  And that Someone brought charges!  If it was someone else's garage you were recovering points from, you would never post such a question as "should I go back?"  So why post such a question now?


Bite the bullet, and forget about it--for the sake of all of us.  You must act responsibly.


And stay off that land.





-Buck